Summary

• Challenging puzzles can lead to frustration, though their core is still satisfying.
• Gameplay structured into missions feels best suited for speedrunning.
• Simplified enemies hinder charm but work well for multiplayer ScareScraper mode; bosses are standard but fitting for Nintendo.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a remake of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, seems to be following a trend as of late, as Nintendo has seen fit to bring back older titles with an eye towards more accessiblity. After other notable 2024 remakes Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo is on a roll with efficiently freshening up its old content while remaining true to the original material, something that remains the case with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.

For those who haven’t played Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, the story isn’t too far off from the plot of other Luigi’s Mansion titles. Players are immediately introduced to the frightened-yet-reluctantly-obedient Luigi, who has been tasked with yet another haunting dilemma. While the specific details have changed between Luigi’s Mansion 1 & 2, the story is more or less the same with Luigi on a mission to rid an area of ghosts that are causing a bit of chaos. However, with the help of Professor E. Gadd, Luigi is not only exploring one mansion this time, but several different properties, each with unique puzzles, ghosts, and surprises.

Surprisingly Difficult Puzzles & Frequent Interruptions

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD May Have Benefited From More Quality Of Life Changes Than It Received

Right from the start, Luigi will be introduced to Evershade Valley, the haunting neighborhood that will act as the setting for the duration of the game. This valley contains multiple venues, from plant-infested towers, to snowed-in chalets, all of which have been efficiently stylized to feel entirely separate from one another. Other than just breaking up some of the monotony that the first game tended to suffer from, these new locations also each offer different interactive elements which Luigi will need to use his various tools on if he has any hopes of progressing.

Despite its innocent appearance, many of the puzzles throughout Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD prove to be no joke. While Nintendo's presented a clear challenge, adding to the enjoyment, there are occasionally some instances where no clear guidance is given. With a variety of tools at your disposal at all times, including the Poltergust 5000, Strobulb, and Dark Light Device, it can often be unclear which one will help you find the correct solution, leading to a lot of wasted time.

Somehow, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD also simultaneously struggles with being too helpful at times. While there are plenty of times when Professor E. Gadd's call would be more than welcomed, there are just as many occurrences where being left alone would be better. Nearly every time a simple task is completed, Luigi is forced to answer a call from Professor E. Gadd on the Dual Screen. Though this is meant to be helpful, it completely breaks up the flow of the game and is often information that could have just been expressed by changing the objective. That’s not to say that these frequent calls ruin the game, only that they would do better to be a little more helpful and a little less interfering.

Gameplay Design Feels Suited For Speedrunners

Segmented Stories & Confusing Mission Ratings Feel Out Of Place For Casual Play

Unfortunately, the interrupting behavior doesn’t stop with the professor’s calls and is further exacerbated by the fact that Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is laid out via missions, rather than open exploration. Whereas in the first game, Luigi would only be called back to the Professor once he had defeated a boss, in Luigi’s Mansion 2, Luigi returns roughly four to five times before even encountering a boss. Though there are some benefits to this, such as earning frequent equipment upgrades, it can become tedious to return to the professor nearly every twenty minutes.

Not only does this damage the flow of the story, it also inhibits exploration and begins to feel more like something with the intention of speedrunning, rather than to casually enjoy. Since each mission features a rating system with no clear indicators on how the individual stats affect that rating, it makes it difficult to know how to increase the rating without just trial and error.

Perhaps the only people who aim to benefit from a play style such as this are completionists, since it does make it easier to return to specific portions of the game and collect any missed treasure, gems, or other items. Otherwise, Nintendo would likely have fared better by following a similar style to the original Luigi’s Mansion and allowing players to explore the entire property at their own pace, face the boss, and then return to Professor E. Gadd to report their findings.

Hauntingly Familiar Combat

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD Offers Players Simplified, Yet Recognizable, Enemies

Another unfortunate downside that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD seems to suffer from is the lack of charming enemies. While there are unique ghosts, each with their own personalities and quirks, they are all simplistic in design. Though there is a place for these characters, it's hard not to miss some of the ghostly beings experienced in the other titles from the Luigi's Mansion franchise. Not only did they have distinct personalities, designs, and backstories, but they made for far more interesting opponents, as few will forget the first time they encountered the ghostly baby, Chauncey, in Luigi’s Mansion.

Fortunately, these enemies do work well for one purpose and that is the ScareScraper. After a certain point in the game, Luigi will gain access to the ScareScraper, a multiplayer battle tower where Luigi and his friends can test out their skills against a variety of enemies, including bosses. There are several different modes, all of which are enjoyable, and it is possibly one of the best additions made to the series from the base game.

Perhaps the biggest question on anyone's mind is whether it is worth purchasing the remake, especially if you’ve already played it, and the answer is a resounding "yes."

When it comes to bosses in the context of the main game, they feel pretty standard for what one might expect from Nintendo. Though they can be initially challenging, many of them follow specific gimmick patterns that once players recognize, will be able to easily punish. While it’s nothing revolutionary, it is familiar and matches well with the feel of first-party Nintendo games, making it a good fit.

Does Luigi's Mansion 2 HD Hold Up To The Original

Players Should Consider That Many Of The Changes Remain Primarily Cosmetic

Perhaps the biggest question on anyone's mind is whether it is worth purchasing the remake, especially if you’ve already played it, and the answer is a resounding "yes." Even though Luigi’s Mansion 2 was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS, where it made use of dual screens, there is nothing lost in the transition to a single-screen device. The bottom screen, which was primarily utilized to showcase the map, has essentially been moved to the top right corner of the Nintendo Switch screen. While exploring, Luigi can stop at any time and the map will appear for viewing, or he can simply access it through the press of a button.

Other than that, the only notable changes are wonderful. Not only have the graphics significantly improved, but Nintendo has even taken to adjusting some of the lighting and effects to enhance the spooky feel of the game, something that is immediately recognizable and appreciated. The controls have been laid out in a way that doesn’t feel obstructive to general gameplay, with the majority of tools being accessible through the L & R buttons as well as the ZL & ZR buttons. Overall, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD feels polished and responsive and looks as great as any other modern-day Nintendo launch title.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

3.5/5 - "Very Good" By Screen Rant's Review Metric

Despite some of the minor story and gameplay grievances, this is still a wonderful experience that has only been further improved with modern upgrades. This HD version's new or updated content offers only benefits when compared to its original iteration, even if they’re primarily cosmetic. Whether you’re experiencing this haunting tale for the first time or looking to return to a familiar classic, there’s no denying that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is the definitive way to play.

Screen Rant was provided with a Nintendo Switch code for the purpose of this review.